A Shadow of the Titans

by Eduard Kassel

A botched banishing spell once again sends Jade hurtling from her world into another. This time though her surroundings aren't the only thing to change as she searches for a way back. Forced into an old form and a new role, Jade will need all her tricks to survive this strange new world. Meanwhile the Teen Titans must prepare to deal with a new kind of villain. NOT Jade x Jinx.

18. Ill Met by Moonlight

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans, Jackie Chan Adventures, or any other Property depicted in this work.

Betaed by: the ever diligent Zim'smostloyalservant(take a look at their work if you have not already eh?)

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A Shadow of the Titans

Created by

Nocturne No Kitsune

Written by

Eduard Kassel

Chapter 16

Ill Met by Moonlight

Or

You can meet the Strangest People Around Here

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The Bat Signal piercing the night was not an odd sight in Gotham City. To criminals it was a sight of wariness, a reminder — as if they needed one — that Batman was out there. To citizens it could be a symbol of hope or a bitter reminder of what they depended on as a city.

But even with opinions more varied than those listed, the Bat Signal did not warrant a second glance for most. This dreary night, a second glance would be warranted. Because this was not the true Bat Signal; it was a smaller beacon, and it was not coming from GCPD Central.

The spotlight was small enough a strong man could have carried it to this lonely rooftop, the Bat insignia clearly painted on, and starting to curl and burn due to the heat of the light, leaving a foul smell in the air.

With a whispering sound, dark metal cut through the air to collide with the fake signal, shattering it. With sparks and a crash of glass, the light died, leaving only the lights of the city and a shrouded moon to light the rooftop.

"Batman?" a voice called from the darkness.

"You wanted my attention, you have it. And possibly the attention of several others who will wonder why someone wanted to speak with me in such a desperate manner," Batman said, likewise out of sight.

"I don't have time to be subtle, I'm running out of time," Killer Moth said, stepping into the full moonlight.

"…"

"…What, no remark on me being back in town? Am I beneath your notice these days?" Killer Moth demanded angrily.

"I don't suppose you are here to turn yourself in?" Batman asked.

"Of course not. I am here to propose an alliance. We both have a problem," Killer Moth snapped.

"The insect, or rather moth, creature. Your handiwork," Batman said. It was not a question.

"My daughter. Kitten," the villain admitted softly.

"…Explain."

"She was abducted, and… blown up. I have nothing on the specifics, but she was dying when she was teleported home as suddenly as she was taken. I had to act quick, I couldn't trust anyone else who had what was needed-" Killer Moth ranted.

"You mutated her. You didn't heal her, you altered her," Batman interrupted. Killer Moth stood silent for a few seconds before snapping again.

"Don't judge me! My lab was not meant as a hospital, certainly not for something of that scale emergency. And her injuries… Short of cyberization or epic magic, maybe magical alien tech, it would have been a struggle to keep her stable for long. I had no choice but to do what I knew how to do, and was equipped to do. I remade her so she would not die. And I wasn't sloppy either, Batman! Everything I have learned, every resource I had, every cent that could be spent toward it, went to making her superior to my own altered genes and any creature I made. I knew she prized her looks, so I even tried to make her beauty bloom again on that super body."

"I take it something went wrong," Batman stated.

"Of course, it's me after all, ISN'T IT! …She can look human, but not enough for her. It's a carapace, it can mimic so far but only so far, and the seams, especially in the face… And she is enraged. I'm not sure if it's from the injuries or my procedure affecting her, but she is lashing out at everything. When she talked to me before breaking loose, she was not making sense…" his fury trailed off.

"She's gone mad then," Batman said.

"Don't you say that! For you, madness is just an excuse to throw someone in Arkham and label them as a monster. You won't do that to my Kitten, that is where I draw the line," Killer Moth growled.

"…What did you come here for?" Batman pressed. Killer Moth nodded, seeming to force some of the tension from his shoulders before he spoke.

"Kitten's a threat to your city you need to stop. And I need to catch her so she can be helped. So I propose we call a truce and team up. I know her, and I know what she can do inside and out. I help you, and you let me take her far away from here."

"She's killed people."

"She's a child! And we both know people go to Arkham or Blackgate to get worse, not better. I'm a villain, Batman, mock me as they want but I am. But even bad men can love, and I will not let her throw away her life so young to become a recurring punching bag for some hero. This fall will not define her life! I didn't save her, raise her, just to be the monster to some hero. …I need your help, Batman," Killer Moth pleaded.

"…I am sorry, but I can't just let a criminal go like you want; not after the lines she has crossed. Perhaps another asylum-"

"At least be honest when your answer is no! I thought it would go this way; you heroes care about people, but villains aren't people to you. Just enemies to be defeated or spared as fits with your egos! Well fine, I'm used to being against the world."

With the last word, Killer Moth rolled a pair of spheres into his hand and threw them onto the roof. The flash bang and smoke bomb went off, and when they cleared Killer Moth was nowhere in sight.

Batman watched the villain make his escape, seemingly oblivious to the tiny tracking dart embedded in him.

Still, Batman hung his head slightly. It was true, even a superhero couldn't give everyone a happy ending. But like anyone should, he would do what he could. Once Kitten was captured, perhaps Bruce Wayne could offer some assistance as he had tried with the Ventriloquist.

X X X

"How long is this going to last?" Jade lamented as she dumped out her bag's contents on the floor of her apartment. Sitting on a rug, she took off her plague mask and ran a hand through her stiff hair; the feeling of it righting itself was a bit calming.

In front of her was a pile of dollar bills, three handguns, a sawed-off shotgun, and a thick gold chain. At least, she thought it might be real gold. She had eaten gold on a bet once at the HIVE, tasty stuff. Maybe just a nibble…

"No," Jade huffed as she pushed the chain aside and started to sort the dollars.

Criminal incomes were not that easy when you wanted to avoid harassing innocent bystanders. Yeah, she was not inclined to help Joe and Jane Schmoe, but robbing people of their last dime didn't really appeal. Cars, you needed a chop shop or contacts with one to really move. And banks, unless she wanted to go full villain mode and have Bat Trouble, she'd need to see inside the vaults first. Not so easy in this town.

So, she had been making raids on the lower level gangs. Tonight it had occurred to her she could maybe pad her income by taking their guns.

Adding it up, it was… well, enough.

Honestly, at this rate she'd really need to resort to eating non-normal edibles as standard. As it was, right now the closest thing she had to normal food in stock in her apartment were ingredients for her pickling. She had been planning on cashing out of that, but her one short bedside meeting with Asuka-Tammy had seen the duo convince her to stay the course for now. They wanted to repay her with business consulting, and what they claimed would be the most comfy silk underwear Jade had ever worn. Though all that was on delay as the healer had yet to release her from the bed/cage.

Apparently, with certain types of creature they became "erratic" after trauma, even if otherwise friendly. It had also been let slip that the duo had eaten humans alive in the past. It was treated like a shameful college story, and reminded Jade that she was still among monsters, even if they were mostly acting friendly by seeing her as one of their own.

Though she had been surprised that the lumps on the duo had not been seen as cause for concern.

Anyway, putting the money in an old shoebox for now, Jade stuffed the guns in a bag. As it stood, she had enough money to keep up payments to Penguin and cover her bills now. So her next job would either be for magic or groceries.

'Just go with the magic, you know you like eating garbage. Stop trying to impress a nonexistent audience by denying it already.'

'Is that you, Queenie?'

'No, just you lampshading how stupid you are being.'

'Just go away,' Jade snapped, thought, er she wasn't sure but she decided it was done.

"Ugh," Jade groaned, hiding the money and tossing the guns into a mostly clean corner. She was going to go down and splurge on a soda. Maybe there would finally be some decent jobs posted on the job board. It was amazing how much stuff on there she was not qualified to do; who knew nearby realms had such a demand for day labor or obstacle class minions?

True, there had been two letters inviting her to meet someone for a job in such and such alley, which of course she burned and ignored. She was indebted, not stupid. What happened to Asuka-Tammy, who was apparently quite badass when she got riled, had everyone in the BB reminded that you were one trap/ambush away from trouble.

And anonymous invites like that just spelled… and why was Poison Ivy loitering by the message board? Which, incidentally, was a literal message board; they had like ten of them, with ads, threats, and various poetry on them.

The landlady was apparently giving the world's top eco-villain the business.

"Listen, it's not like I want to be here-" the green-skinned villain was saying.

"Then get out. You were told you're not welcome after what you did to Horace."

"That wasn't my fault! It was a complete unknown unknown. Believe me, had I wanted to kill him, I'd take credit for it. Backstab and lie isn't my style."

"Well, you Rogues we have terms of service with, and all of him died, under your watch. All of him, P.I.! When people that were assumed near-unkillable go and die, it makes people nervous. We don't need you down here anyway; I have actual dryads and a spider woman that does earth magic."

"Look, I'm not trying to rent anything, I just want to find someone I heard is staying down here," Poison Ivy grumbled.

"You know full well being a place people aren't found by those looking for 'em is part of what I charge rent for, Normal."

"…'Normal', me? Honestly, I can't even feel properly insulted, because it's taking too much to wrap my head around you saying that with a straight face."

Jade decided she should probably just check another board, and turned to go when green eyes locked on her, looking around the corner.

"Hey, you!" Ivy said, taking a step toward her.

"Nope," Jade said, stepping around a corner as Ivy ducked under a battle axe the landlady had pulled from somewhere and dozens of fire pixies surged from cracks in the wall on their lady's whistle.

Jade dashed down the corridor, skillfully bypassing one resident also fleeing the sounds of battle and two axe-wielding, armored Dullahans rushing toward the sound with grins. A plus side to not being in the hero role currently, she noted as she fled, no one expected her to stick around when there was trouble and she had other stuff to do.

The sound of a fiery explosion and Posion Ivy cussing a storm in the distance made Jade sigh, wishing she still had her firepower.

Later:

"Well, Red, at least you pull off roasted vegetables as a look," Harley laughed as Ivy stripped down to her underwear, took a freshly mixed poultice out of a beaker, and started spreading it on the burns across her body.

"It was almost chopped vegetables. You know, forget this, magic types are bad enough to deal with. You want to recruit this kid, go on in there yourself," Ivy snapped.

"Can't, I'm super-duper banned ever since Mistuh J filleted those mermaids. Or made that minotaur boy of the boss lady's into steaks. Ohh, and I helped him cut that deck of living cards! They were fun. And how could they forget-"

"Enough! I've got to heal up, and I have another informed lifetime banning. I don't need to listen to you recount your number one a-hole's greatest hits."

"Ahh, the magic stuff don't even make top 20."

"POINT, CLOWN GIRL! Is that if you want her on a team up, get her yourself. You get her here, I make an offer, but you have to get that bird in hand."

"No worries, I got this all planned!"

"…Then why was I doing this?"

"Seeing you fail at stuff improves my self-esteem. You always say I need a healthier self-image."

"I'm going to go lie down now, before I decide to just kill you and do us both a favor."

"Pleasant dreams, Red!" Harley called. The door slammed shut in answer, knocking over some of the empty vials on the table.

X X X

Jinx went high with Jade as Jackie went through the ground level tunnel. While she could see Jackie dodging the tomb's traps through holes in the floor, she and Jinx tore through them. Wings spread, Jade cut through blades, and batted away projectiles with her powers. Shadows attended her, an arm forming and dissolving in the same second as clouds wisping around. Jinx positively glowed with energy, her eyes glowing like spotlights as energy crackled through the metal baubles adoring her robes.

Still, Jade laughed as they emerged only to find Jackie beat them anyway. Landing there behind the "mere mortal" that could conquer great demons felt more right and proper than any throne could have, Jade thought lazily.

Though as awesome as Jackie Chan was, it seemed they were late. The bad guy, a handsome blue man with glowing red eyes in a nice suit, shoved the lid off the sarcophagus and reached inside as the falling lid kicked up dust.

"That does not belong to you!" Jackie objected, flashing his Awesome Badge.

"What is it, anyway?" Jinx asked. As the dust cleared, the villain held up the treasure in one hand in a gesture fit for a movie poster.

"Tarakudo?" Jade recognized the idol in gold. Which turned to the familiar red head with white mustache and eyebrow.

The dream shattered, Jade watching sadly as Jinx and Jackie froze and faded, leaving her and an old enemy in a void of pulsing pale pastels.

"Umm, what a strange dream this be?!" he said, turning into a basketball with a mustache. Baring her teeth, Jade snapped a finger and he turned back, even to his embodied form.

"Sooo," he said, looking not nearly surprised enough, "It seems you have matured enough as a High Shadowkhan that you are now a higher master of your dream domain, able to instinctively detect meddling."

"Looks like," Jade said, thrusting a hand. A giant blue talon-tipped hand riddled with scales sprang from the ground and grabbed Tarakudo, who grunted in surprise.

"So, goodbye and good riddance," Jade said, closing her fingers and the giant hand following suit.

"Now hold on there, no need to be hasty," Tarakudo said, his voice rising only a little as he made a timeout sign.

"You were trying to mess with my head. And this probably wasn't the first time. Lemme guess, you've been editing me since my change? Pushing me to embrace the dark side or something?" Jade remarked, but did halt her fingers.

"You give me too much credit. It took some time for me to get into that head of yours, and I never controlled you. Not even close, really, more just nudging. In fact, I did a good bit to make sure that neophyte Blood kept his sticky fingers off your thoughts."

"Not going to thank you for that, as it was probably more you going 'Don't touch my stuff,'" Jade remarked drolly.

"Fair enough. And most importantly, those days are done. I've spent quite awhile finding the best way to sneak back into your mind. Find the best angle… and yet look at you, catching on right away. Little Zhu Chan's all grown up," Tarakudo smiled.

"…Go away," Jade ordered, closing her fist. The giant construct followed suit, and exploded. The debris rained down on the mindscape, revealing Tarakudo standing boldly, arms raised as if for a fight, which he then lowered and used to dust off his chiseled red Shadowkhan body. Jade averted her eyes before looking at his face.

"Not just yet. I may not be able to sneak and you have the home field advantage, Zhu Chan, but you're still too early to just be able to toss me out like a bouncer dealing with the town drunk. But don't worry — even if I could beat you here, which is not certain by any means, I did not come here to fight."

"What are you talking about? You just admitted to trying to manipulate my mind."

"And I also admitted you have outgrown such methods. So rather than throw a fit or something like that loser Shendu would, I say we move on from that and discuss how the current situation can work for us. Now that you have crossed the threshold properly into a High Shadowkhan, let's deal more as equals. I may still be a King and otherwise superior to you, but you are free while I am not; that makes up for quite a lot of ground," Tarakudo said.

"Wait, wait, wait! Are you seriously proposing an alliance?" Jade demanded.

"Yes. Of course I would much prefer having you as a vassal with me openly grooming you as a General and possible Queen in my kingdom, but we're not there yet. No need to rush. I admit it will be an uphill battle for you to trust me enough for that, given our previous relationship."

"Dang, you really are bold. I mean, is this just refuge in boldness? What the heck?"

"Yes, yes, I get it. Can't just turn around and expect you to see the sense in what I am saying. It wasn't easy recruiting my other Generals, either. So I will go for now, but just so you know, we remain connected; call out my name in your mind, and I'll come. Be seeing you soon."

As he started to fade, Jade grit her teeth.

"Hey, just a minute!" His fading paused and he cocked a white eyebrow.

"Why call me by my villain name? You know my real name."

"I was calling you by your real name. At this point, Jade Chan is as much a tale from the past as Karasu is just a mask you're wearing. Fine, even excellent in their roles, but once those roles have been severed…" And then he was gone, leaving Jade standing in her mind as the Queen formed, coiling about her gently.

"…Bad day," they said in sync.

Nearby:

Harley Quinn was on a mission to recruit the new girl for some manner of team-up.

True, she had been entirely honest with Ivy, she did feel the kid had crossed a line and provoked Mistuh J into being extreme. Her Puddin' was a kind of man that was like a chemistry experiment. Done right, things turned out wonderful, but if you were rough or inconsiderate with him, he blew up in your face. That was just the way he was, she told herself.

So yeah, she intended to use the team-up to impart a needed lesson or two. But the kid was still green, she needed some real world guidance from strong career women. Harley didn't place too much stock in the HIVE. School-learning had landed her in the career she had languished in until Mistush J dynamited her out of the rut of normalcy to really start living. She expected a school of villainy was only marginally better. She'd learned all her villainy chop from experience with Joker and a smattering of other villains by tutelage or observation.

The kid needed something more than what she had to make a splash in this field. And Harley Quinn intended to provide that.

Currently she was seated in a civvy disguise, watching an entrance to the Buried Bricks. It wasn't much, just no makeup, some "teasing sexy" clothes, a Gotham Knights cap, and letting her hair down. It wasn't like she had bleached skin or something; her Puddin' would probably wallop her for trying to knock off his look if she did.

Anyway, all she had to do now was wait for the kid to pop up, either coming in or going out. Then it was a simple matter of jumping her, forcing her to stay and listen to what Harley had to say, and then obviously the kid would see reason and sign up with her and Ivy.

Really, how hard could all that be?

X X X

Commissioner Gordon walked away from the scene, glad he was a bit disturbed by the carnage in the mobster's house. The mansion seemed deliberately gaudy in its decor, almost a parody of how some social commentator or comedian would depict rich people living. He didn't think the late George "Goldenboy" Tilden had been thinking of anything like that; the man was simply audacious in his lifestyle, and had a habit of retaliating against any criticism.

Well, was. It was all past tense now — they had finally found the head, so it was mostly confirmed. "Mostly" because it was Gotham, after all.

"Only one fatality this time," Batman said, as expected appearing out of seemingly nowhere now that Gordon was alone in a billiard room.

"Still one too many. Though I'm not sure even his mother will cry for the Goldenboy," Gordon replied.

"Since he was a prime suspect in her disappearance, that seems a safe assumption."

"That's right," Gordon sighed, looking over the room. Even the pool table had golden filigree worked into it, "The witnesses confirm it was the moth. So was this another random attack like the others, do you think? Hard to believe even a lunatic would just casually pick a fight like this."

"George Tilden valued gold more than security. He was not prepared for an attack like this. And the attacks aren't random. This metahuman is searching for someone, ineptly but with determination."

"You know something I don't?"

"Yes. I will fill you in shorty, once I confirm a few matters."

"Of course," Gordon sighed, "Why take the gold? She never stole anything but clothes before, that we know of."

"This mothgirl is not very smart or sane, but she's not a complete fool, Commissioner. If you can't find what you want, or find anyone to tell you, why not purchase help?" Batman said.

"So she wants someone you need an underworld broker to find… One of these days, I will catch him leaving," Gordon grumbled, realizing he was alone.

X X X

Penguin watched from a two-way mirror as the blonde youth danced to a slow tune. Hard to believe Killer Moth's progeny had been causing such savage disruption. But it was a simple fact that people could rise above their heritage.

She was certainly unstable, but he had dealt with worse. She had positively beamed when offered a chance to use the Black Velvet's dance floor. Given her nature, she had asked his staff for a partner for the slow dance. Sparrow, one of his lovely bodyguards, had been the only volunteer when he gave the information.

That one had a certain thirstiness for danger. But if Kitten had proven unamenable, he would have just ordered a man of the staff to man up and offer hazard pay. But she had not even batted an eye.

Didn't seem to be anything particularly "adolescent" going on. It was possible the girl just really wanted to do something as normal as dancing and did not care abut a partner beyond being able fulfill their role. Or she might be peeking from a closet. Hmm, no, the first felt more genuine. The girl was newly inducted into the ranks of freaks, and he suspected only half-mad, still sane enough to regret so much. So now she lunged at any resemblance to normalcy.

He could certainly sympathize with feeling denied one's birthright in society.

And while revealing information on how to find young Karasu would be indelicate, there was no reason he could not do so with someone who knew where the young Rogue was living. Besides, Kitten had paid in gold and not even haggled; his business ethics would not allow him to shortchange her.

X X X

It was two days of the daily grind before Big Red knocked again. Two more days of "getting by" until she felt him, interrupting an unimpressive dream about rowing a duck up a school hallway.

"Don't let him in," the Queen said flatly. Jade rolled her eyes as the dream finished dissolving, leaving them in a plain of mist and various junk and mementos. Tarakudo was knocking, in a sense. A hard sensation to describe, but Jade knew exactly what it meant, now that she knew to keep a metaphorical eye out for it.

"Better to keep an eye on him."

"Stuuuupid," the Queen said, curling herself around Jade.

Jade allowed him entrance, and in the next moment, Tarakudo was there, a respectable distance in front of them. He was fully-bodied again, but thankfully dressed in a dark blue hakama this time.

"So, I take it you're willing to speak now?" Tarakudo asked.

"Be quick, say your bit so I can kick you out and know why."

"Heh. Well, I'll try and be brief. I want to help you get back home. How's that?"

"…Why? You seemed pretty keen on conquering this world."

"Yeah, we had a good shot at it, but the element of surprise is lost. And while the lack of chi magic is nice, this world is fill to bursting with formidable factions. If we tried the same plan again, I am sure there will be plans in place by now to hinder us. And the players here can a lot worse in victory than your old clan. And I admit there is a desire to return and win in the world I spent so long trying to rule."

"And what about the whole 'me and the darkness' deal. And you'd still be sealed if I took the masks back."

"Only until you unsealed us. Now, now, I know you don't intend that now. Okay then, Zhu Chan, allow me to lay things out. You resent me for the crafty manipulations, so I will be honest and lay my cards on the table. If you get back home, I am certain you will not get what you want. You want to be human again? I don't think you really do, and that is more nostalgia for the days you weren't being hounded and hunted under a ton of stress here. I think once you are in the clear, as it were, you will find yourself desperately grasping for reasons you can't really believe in to give up being a mystical being. We both know you can disguise yourself in time. So that outcast bit is no excuse. And to be frank, you have few friends because you rightly see yourself better than most. And what better validation than being a superior species?

"And species aside, Jackie Chan will want to rip that talisman power from you. Which you won't want, I know. You never like locking the wonder away. Never accepted that the risk of that power outweighed the potential usefulness, the sheer amazingness of having it. You'll have to choose between yourself and what those well-intentioned tyrants want. And you have tasted the dark side. You know what it is to be free. To be praised and encouraged in seeking greatness, instead of being grudgingly praised at best and told that getting your homework done on time is a more commendable achievement than saving a token from a beast or something. You will either reject them at the time, or you will bend over to accommodate them and come to hate and resent them for forcing you into a role you not only outgrew, but that 'normal girl' role you never wanted. And when desperation and acceptance join hands, you will turn to the only ones with the power to see you rise in restored glory, and who are willing, even eager to see it. Namely, me and mine.

"So you see, Jade, I will help you get what you want, because I understand that what you need will eventually be to free me. Incidentally, if you truly feel I am off the mark, that I do not comprehend you, then why not string me along, and hope to laugh before the end credits roll with everyone else as I stew in impotence in the Vault awaiting a dark epiphany that will never come?"

Jade didn't have a good comeback for that last remark, or anything else Tarakudo had said, for that matter. After all, much as she hated to admit it, he wasn't saying anything that hadn't occurred to her numerous times since she'd arrived in this world. And he seemed to know it, smirking at her silence.

"Food for thought," he said, before vanishing from the mindscape.

"Told you listening to him wasn't a good idea," the Queen said into the quiet that followed the Oni King's departure, "All he did was get you upset."

"Shut up," was all that Jade could retort, forcing herself to wake up and return to reality, blocking out anything else that the Queen had to say. She had more important stuff to worry about than her other half's scolding or Tarakudo playing off her fears.

'That's all he was doing,' she told herself, trying very hard to make herself believe it.

X X X

"Catching magic folks is hard!" Harley exclaimed, plopping down on Ivy's couch. Ivy rolled her eyes as she read the paper in her chair.

"That's why we don't mess with magic. It's bogus for people who don't use it. Besides, it's not like we actually need the kid for anything. Maybe getting thrown into honey and wickets was a sign it's not to be," Ivy remarked.

"No way! It takes more than a few knocks to make me quit on something!" Harley asserted, making a horrid squicking sound as she jumped off the couch. Ivy grimaced; great, that was probably it for that furniture. Did Harley even know how expensive sustainable economy furniture was?

"Yeah, takes more than a few bruises, humiliations, and near death experiences for you to take a hint," Ivy remarked.

"That's right! By the way, those magic guys cleared me out on the stuff, and I'm banned from that store again. Like, super-banned. So can you spot me some bucks? 'Cus I need to fight magic with magic!"

"No," Ivy said folding the paper.

X X X

Jade had put on her best ninja mask, and gotten her stuff washed professionally at the market. And eaten a soup can to ensure her stomach would not growl. Pity she'd run out of mustard, it went good with cans.

She was checking her watch in her apartment, having just finished checking herself in the mirror. She'd gotten mail three days ago, from Asuka-Tammy. The two had invited her to dinner tonight, in the duo's apartment. On the one hand, it interfered with Jade's schedule, and on the other, it was a free meal. And finally… well, it would be nice to talk with someone when not at a bar, and it not be business related.

Well, she was also a bit curious to see what another flat here looked like. And she had prepped some magic goodies in her pockets, just in case this was a trap.

Jade frowned, putting a hand through the red hair standing straight atop her head. It wasn't that she didn't like the way it looked, and of course it helped with the disguise. But there were times like this she had so much trouble seeing where she started…

Shaking off useless thoughts, Jade checked her watch again and ducked out of the apartment. Of course, since it was literally next door, she arrived two minutes early anyway.

From what she had been taught, you never ever arrived early, so she watched her, um, watch, tapping a clawed foot on the fraying carpet floor.

The moment the watch read the right time, Jade knocked on the door. It opened immediately, and Jade had the sudden impression of Asuka-Tammy having been lying in wait on the other side.

"Hiya/Welcome to our home," the duo greeted. They were wearing a pair of wide-sleeved silk shirts, a bright red for Tammy and a soft blue for Asuka. And of course, enough sleeves for all the arms.

Jade didn't see any scars from the stitches on the relevant mouth, and couldn't help but feel a bit of resentment for that. Though it looked like the duo weren't completely recovered from whatever treatment they'd gotten, with the huge furry lumps clearly still marring their abdomen as they turned aside to gesture Jade to enter.

"Thanks for the invitation," Jade said with a slight bow, before walking in. She had learned proper manners, of course, she just didn't always use them.

And then she was glad for her mask, as her jaw dropped at the apartment.

She knew the duo had plants in their flat. Heck, they'd announced ketchup making the moment Jade met them. But Jade had always kind of seen it as a side room operation.

It wasn't. The main room of the flat was basically a greenhouse dominated by tomato plants, with smaller sections of other plants growing in wooden planters. The kitchen, from what Jade could see, was more like a workshop, presumably for the crafting of their ketchup. The closest thing to homeyness was the walls being decorated with scenes of American and Japanese farming. Though looking up, Jade saw that above the solar lamps (literal, it seemed, with balls of gleaming fire burning in place of lightbulbs) the ceiling was mostly obscured by thick layers of web.

'That's her living space,' Jade guessed as Asuka-Tammy started to prattle self-importantly on her gardening, even revealing another room was also for work, and even the bathroom converted to her business needs. The duo volunteered the information that they bagged their own waste for disposal, with a bitter aside that few toilets accommodated their body type anyway.

The remaining room was reserved for their kits. Jade braced herself to meet the oft rumored and sometimes heard children. She liked to think she had an open mind, but still, an unknown number of nonhuman children, who it seemed were running about with no speech and possibly highly venomous… well, it gave her some pause.

The door opened to reveal an empty room. It lacked any furniture, unless you counted a pair of many times mended futons shoved against opposite walls. Bridles of web crisscrossed above the average person's height, the floor was strewn with stuffed plushes and dolls that had seen better days, and in the far corner strange Lego structures loomed.

"It's not much," Tammy lamented.

"But it's better they socialize as their focus rather than focus on toys," Asuka asserted.

"Ugh, don't try and spin we can't afford the good child-proof stuff as a virtue. No to the humble bragging already," Tammy groaned.

"Shh, not in front of company!" Asuka shushed.

"Uh, where are your kids?" Jade asked, warily looking at the ceiling in both rooms.

"Huh? Oh, right," Asuka-Tammy said in sync. Twisting around on their torsos, they each grabbed one of the lumps. After a moment's fiddling, the bumps came away with a faint but unpleasant sound. The duo flinched a bit, but smiled.

"They've been clingy since we got back."

"I'd hoped they had outgrown blood nursing."

Jade watched with a certain dread as the lumps uncurled before her eyes.

Two of Asuka-Tammy's kids. Jade supposed they were about the size of a medium or so dog. She was having trouble gauging that as her mind wrapped around the sight. They were covered in the blonde and blue fur of their mother, giving them a slight fuzzy look. Their legs looked a bit stumpy for driders, as they wiggled in the arms holding them. Their many eyes were big and expressive. They also had no arms on their tiny torsos that Jade could see, and two heads and torsos!

"Two heads?" Jade asked, looking at the two (four?) kids being shown to her.

"Of course. Why would we have one-headed kids?"

"Not that we wouldn't love kits with one head, of course."

Then one of the kit's eyes turned red and it leapt for Jade, baring fangs. Jade leapt back, arms raised and a spell on her lips. And Asuka-Tammy, eyes flashing red a moment, smacked her kit out of the air and down into the floor with a sharp thud.

"No, bad Mallory-Jessica! No hunting in the building! And especially no hunting of talking creatures!" Asuka admonished.

"…" Jade watched as the duo admonished the kit and locked her in the play room while getting the rest off of them.

Jade was determined to wait it out. Be polite, be openminded, after all. Then she found out how Asuka-Tammy had six, possibly twelve, kids without ever having sex since changing. Which also explained why she avoided areas with a heavy population of human women, and she volunteered more than Jade ever wanted to know for how you could mistake pregnancy for constipation.

Dinner was almost served before it became clear beyond all doubt her neighbor had accidentally and on pure instinct eaten twelve women, and the result was apparently this brood of kits.

Yeah, Jade hoped there was no hard feelings for making an excuse to skip out on the pig roast. Her life was bizarre, but this… well, she needed to go into the relatively more sane Gotham for a bit, she decided, because dang, what was she supposed to do with that?!

Shortly:

Harley laid in wait, holding the fancy rope and fiddling with it on the warehouse rooftop. This two-toned rope was magic, or should be considering how much she paid for it. The kid had gotten into a habit of going this way every other night before things got random.

She could for reals fly, turning her arms into wings. She might have been calling herself "crow", but with that hair Harley kept thinking "chicken". Kids today, they couldn't even find their own themes right, she thought.

Forming a lasso with the rope, she watched and waited to rope the girl into a routine with her and Ivy.

Her control broke and she laughed aloud at the pun in her head.

X X X

Jade flapped through the Gotham night, straying lower than usual for this part.

Flying was cool, but she could only go so fast. For speedy exits, there was always her shadow teleports. So why fly? Well, first of all, Jade did have to have a clear destination in mind. And random roofs or alleys are hard to remember clearly enough to keep straight long-term. And teleporting could always potentially land you in trouble. After all, Jade continued to converse with herself in her head, if there was ever a city where randomly popping up could take you from bad to worse, it was Gotham.

And well, flying was too cool not to use it when she could. That was totally normal. The sensation of the wind over her, the way her feathers moved with the wind or motion. Heck, even the sounds of the city filtered through her low-speed flight could make Gotham seem actually pleasant.

Teleporting, it was efficient and a bit refreshing as she dipped for a second into the Shadow Realm for the process, but flight appealed on too many levels.

Though the flight would be better without the pain in her butt, Jade thought, entering what she assumed to be the mandatory abandoned warehouse district. Okay, actually her tailbone. Asuka-Tammy, when she complained earlier, had insisted on finding where exactly she was hurting. Apparently they had, in their own words, very extensive education on anatomy from trying to figure out how their own body worked.

The point was, it kept feeling… tense. Tight? Wound? Whatever, when she flew it didn't feel right.

Trying to get it to pop or something, Jade started to wiggle in the air. No one was looking, so who cared how stupid it looked?

X X X

"I could fly better than that. Drinking and flying, tsk, so irresponsible," Harley chastised. She was swinging the magical lasso, and had to suppress a bout of laughter as it occurred to her that had she dressed up like Wonder Woman this would be a great gas, and commanded the rope.

"Grab this kid here," she commanded, eyes locked on the approaching junior villain. Not only would it not fail to catch the kid, it was also enchanted with super grip reinforcement. Great find, she just needed to pull off a heist or something before Ivy noticed she'd pawned her souped up something-or-other gizmo from the lab.

"Ha!" Harley said, lashing out with the lasso.

And just as she called out, as she watched the kid seemed to have darkness erupt from her butt of all things and hurled out of sight with a shriek.

"Huh," Harley said, the rope flying through empty air. Then the rope curved sharply, after the kid.

"Ohhhhh," Harley said, trying to drop the magic rope, and failing, as it pulled tight, "Poopy."

Cursing magic and declaring she knew she should have gone for the lamp, Harley was pulled through the air of Gotham percussively as the rope struggled to stay airborne.

Sometime Later:

Ivy heard the door slam open as she wrote in the notebook, recycled paper of course. Frowning, she got up, ready to confront her friend.

"Harley, did you steal my-" Ivy cut off mid-rant at Harley looking like she'd gone a round with a heavyweight boxer. It wasn't Joker's work; even if he had broken out without her knowledge, Harley got sad, not angry when that creep laid into her.

"What happened?" Ivy asked, as much out of curious reflex as concern for her troublesome friend.

"Kid jet poops shadows. Kids today, Red! Time was, crooks and heroes had one superpower and rocked with it. Now it's like an obesity epidemic of abilities, combo platters for everyone! Imagomnaliedown," Harley ranted, shambling past Ivy in her scuffed costume. Ivy frowned and called after her.

"…Superman is classic and he's got lots of powers. Wonder Woman at least has flight and super strength, that's two. And-" Ivy's correction was cut off by Harley's jester cap smacking her in the face.

X X X

Jade smiled, counting the cash as she left her building's market. She wasn't sure when or who had tried to nail her with that magic rope, but it had made her night with the re-sale value.

Granted, she had not enjoyed the crash when that stupid boost sent her ultimately through a window, and a wall in the relevant room. Yeah, that might work for an emergency exit, but slow and steady could win her races thank you very much.

And hey, she could buy people food tonight and still turn a tidy profit.

The Next Night:

Tarakudo was back, and Jade ignored the Queen by letting him in. She wanted a break from number crunching her income vs expenses in light of her recent minor windfall.

"Ah, the burdens of treasury. Least favorite part of the job of being King. Me, I found a solution is getting a kappa for that. If he ever messed up too badly I'd just kill him and go fishing for a new one," Tarakudo said as they formed on a mindscape, a distorted version of Jade's apartment.

"What do you want now?"

"Well, for starters I wanted to see if you would be willing to talk after having some time to think matters over."

"No alliance. Don't trust you. Don't like you. Heck, even Queenie doesn't like you."

"Well, what about some advice? Free of charge, pro bono, etc. You can listen or disregard it."

"Fine, if it will keep you from knocking on my mind for awhile."

"Well Jade, it seems to me you are overlooking quite an asset for financial gain."

"Ha! I've been trying to squeeze every penny and bean out of that income!"

"Shadowkhan. You might recall them, certain red-eyed ninjas with charming blue skin?"

"What about them?" Jade remarked, taking a seat at her work area and willing a cup and pot of tea to appear.

"Simply put, you could get a lot more done with even a single Shadowkhan helping you. Even if only for petty theft or breaking and entering, it would provide income without you having to waste time personally. And of course, supporting you in an operation."

"Mhm," Jade said, pouring the tea.

"…I can tell you haven't even been trying. Summoning Shadowkhan is an ability, but it's not something that will simply fall into your lap. Right now if you tried, you'd either get nothing but a kind of belching of shadows, or an unimpressive shapeless slug thing of shadows. Only time and practice will let your own unique Shadowkhan come forth at your will."

"Unique? Aren't they pretty uniform?"

"Tribe, your unique tribe, and I'm pretty sure you know what I am talking about," Tarakudo snapped.

"No."

"No? It's a solution to your dilemma. Your current situation is hardly acceptable. You are struggling to make ends meet when you should be dedicating your time to discovering, understanding, and mastering what it means to be a Higher Shadowkhan. And part of that means summoning drones and discovering your own talents to an extent through them that are extensions of yourself."

"And corrupt me too, right? After all, Black went drunk on the dark side preeetttyyy quick once he started going all sumo inferno."

"That was because my General was getting more influence over him because he was using that General's power. This power is yours. Not using it would be as senseless as growing an eye in the back of your head and not using it."

"And why should I believe you?"

"Your need to alter the situation isn't enough to take a chance?"

Jade brought her teacup down with a clang that spilled a few drops of tea and glanced over at the big giant head.

"Don't think I'll run to you and the dark side at the first sign of trouble," she growled, and pulled down her mask; despite this being in her mind, she could feel her face was as ravaged here, "I know desperate. This situation, it's irritating, but I'm not so pathetic I'll take a risk like that just to scratch an itch. I'm better than having to run to a magic upgrade whenever things start to get tough."

"Heh. Okay, I can respect pride, some. Fine, a hiatus on minions; I am sure you'll explore yourself more in the meantime. But word of warning — you went through a growth spurt, but that doesn't mean you are done 'cooking' yet. If it's anything like male Shadowkhan, the first is the most dramatic in changes, but it will become… more itself. But that was for males, it might be very different for females," he shrugged verbally, "And your passage to High Shadowkhan was not natural either, being a forced affair, and fresh from some chi-based shenanigans."

"What's that have to do with anything?"

"Maybe nothing. Maybe something. But I can take solace in the fact that your horns are coming in very nice. Oh yes they are," Tarakudo chuckled.

Jade snapped her fingers, and a doorframe appeared between her and the Oni King.

"Oh, come now! I know you're still too young. I'm thinking long term h-" he objected, before a door slammed on his face.

Jade woke from her self-induced state and frowned, bending to feel up her birdy feet. They only seemed odd at times like this when she really inspected them. They were more inhuman than anything else about her, but she practically forgot them. She'd even perched on a railing earlier in the evening to get a better view topside, her feet reflexively grabbing hold. She only slipped because of the footwear she had special made or them. Which were more like heavy gloves or something.

She glanced over to where those foot-gloves sat with her two other shoes for these feet. They all exposed her claw toes. She had asked for that, but it seemed an assumption, whether shelf bought or custom, she would want her claws, talons, whatever, ready for action.

Well, the thought of ripping and tearing into Joker's face did have an appeal.

Under the mask, her teeth clanked together twice, a habit she hadn't realized she was picking up to cover for her inability to smile. And realized, who was she kidding? Given the choice on talons, she'd forget the face. Go for the torso, rip his lungs right out and show them to him!

She was no murderer, but this was the Joker, right? She'd probably get a bunch of tasty chocolates from the victims and loved ones. Heck, rich people who hated the Joker might get her cars, cash money…

Jade shook her head, nonsense. Joker was better avoided. Killing him would be good, but it would be risky before and after. Crane had turned up alive, in France for some reason, rumor had it. But even if she killed Joker… Well, everyone knew the story of the lowly thug who everyone thought killed Batman and his life turned into hell.

Jade needed less trouble in her life, not more. She'd master her situation her way. No more Rogues, save as oneshot business deals. She'd tackle magic and this form slow and steady. Because she was Jade Chan, she was awesome, and Gotham was not going to lick her again!

*Glurgle*

And she was also hungry. And considering the numbers crunched earlier, it looked like lettuce, salsa, and scrap salad again. She couldn't afford to splurge on real food again so soon.

She sighed, breaking from her pose of badass resolve.

X X X

"Why are we doing this again?" Jade asked. She was floating upward alongside an abandoned apartment building, four planters filled with tomato plants suspended around her. Nearby on the actual wall, Asuka-Tammy was ascending, holding a fifth tomato planter.

"It's vital for the ritual that the tomato plants be bathed in the light of the full moon. This is a vital step to making really great tomatoes, and by extension great ketchup!" Tammy insisted.

"We are most grateful, by the way. This will only take two trips with your help," Asuka added.

"Not too sure about that. I'll be standing guard here while you get the rest."

"That makes no sense, you can get it all in one go!" they objected together.

"I am not going in your apartment alone."

"Listen, I know our girls are a little bitey, but that's just how kits show affection."

"Yeah, they bit me until I showed them I'd bite back."

"To be clear, only she did that, I'm a bit more progressive."

"Which is why we can't have carpet and were banned from daycare. Reckless eating landed us in parenthood, and I don't see how enabling that bad habit will help the next generation."

"Okay, I really don't want to spectate this, so lets just start the veggie moon-bathing, and you get back and start hauling the rest," Jade sighed as they reached the roof.

"Very well, but you'll understand some day when you have kids."

"Needing to pry-bar them off your carapace is one of the hardest parts."

"Uh-huh, wow, it almost looks peaceful, doesn't it?" Jade said, taking in the sight of Gotham's skyline.

"Mmm, yeah. Country girl at heart, but the city lights do have a charm," Tammy said.

"Meh, Japan's are better."

They continued the well-worn argument as they descended the building. Jade picked up the planters and put them in the outlines drawn on the roof amidst an array that the duo had refreshed earlier with chalk.

Jade let her hood fall back as she floated, examining it. The magic here was all about growth, and essence. So not something for her spellbooks. She needed magic that would either help her survive, or get home.

She would frown if she had the face for it under her mask. She loved magic, but it was so easy to dismiss parts of it like this. She hardly even explored this city now. Batman and the Rogues, and of course the police, had her either going directly from apparent safe spot to safe spot, or on the hunt for money-making opportunities. Is that what growing up really meant, becoming so preoccupied or worried you start neglecting what you love without realizing it?

And her friendship with Asuka-Tammy, shouldn't she be branching out from that? She'd been invited to the girls' market friends gatherings, or just to catch a drink with Flesh Render and others. The HIVE, that had been supervillains, so except for Jinx it was only natural to keep them on a need-to-know basis.

"It makes perfect sense," she reminded herself, "There's no point in making friends when the goal is to leave and never look back."

That was right. It was the same reason there was no need to worry about any of her villain activity or get too upset over her face or her weird body. She just needed to get back, and this would wrap up like a cartoon or something. Like when Jackie was turning to stone, right? However horrifying things got, as long as she reached the finish line, it would turn out alright.

She just needed to keep moving forward and being Jade Chan would be enough to outrun the consequences.

'Jade, what is wrong?' The Queen spoke in her head. The tone was odd, and Jade winced, trying to unclench fists she did not remember making. With hesitant effort, she opened up her hands to find four matching cuts, each where her claws had dug into her palm. Taking a few steps also showed she had dug her talons into the roof a bit.

"Jade?" The Queen asked, wispy form coming together beside her.

"What's taking those two so long with the veggies? I have things to do!"

"Hey! You asked if you could help!" Tammy objected as the duo rose into view with two more planters.

"Tammy," Asuka said.

"Huh?" Tammy said, looking to her other half as the drider paused on the rooftop. Eight eyes squinted at Jade.

"Zhu Chan, are you alright?"

"I told you, outside call me Karasu," Jade snapped.

"Umm, you don't-"

"Hey, what's that sound?"

Jade cocked her own head; yeah, she heard it too. Some kind of engine? No. A voice? Nah. Music? Bad music.

"MINEMINEMINE MINEMINEMINE!"

"Wha-" Jade began, glancing to her left. She was cut off as a pink blur slammed into her.

Asuka-Tammy heard a gurgled cry of pain before her neighbor and friend vanished into the Gotham night with the pink streak.

The duo-drider screamed in surprise, dropping the planters with a racket of metal, tearing plants, and spilled dirt. Without even looking back, they leapt backward, falling back toward the street below.

X X X

Jade cried out as she felt something break in her, and keep cracking as she was plowed through the air. Eyes painfully opening, she was met with the sight of… a bug? She couldn't register much more than the gleaming compound eyes and pink, before they collided with something.

Jade skidded and rolled across a roof before hitting the bannister, which crunched.

"Gotcha," the bug said, landing over her and popping something.

Jade looked up, groaning, only to hiss as the bug ignited some kind of flare.

"No shadows for you," the bug clicked gleefully.

Jade squinted, and then drowsily got to her feet. The bug didn't look like a bug anymore. The silhouette was human-looking. What was going on?

"Do I know you?" Jade asked.

"What?! Why not take a good look?!" the attacker said, stepping to loom over her. That gave enough for Jade to make her out.

'Oh, she's a doll?' Jade thought. Blonde hair reached down to her shoulders, and she had the kind of skin tone and figure that would make for one of those dolls girly-girls loved, even the blue eyes. But she was clearly fake, and naked. Well, did it count as naked with a doll? She didn't even have nipples or a belly button. Though more prominently, visible if thin dark seams divided her up. Tilting her head to glare at Jade a bit more, Jade watched with a detached fascination as the plates moved with a slight clack to accommodate the motion. Though even if she had been clothed, Jade saw it wouldn't pass for real, with no less than six visible components to her face.

"How about now?!" the doll demanded, her mouth opening to let the sound come out but the lips not moving.

"That's creepy," Jade remarked. It was time to go; this moron had dropped a flare to get rid of shadows, but by standing they provided one.

"Bye," Jade said, pressing into the shadow under her.

"SKREEEE!" the doll's face flew open, and Jade froze, head swinging back in pain. Vision swimming, it looked like a nightmare bug was jumping out of the doll.

It hit her again, grabbing her neck as she collided with the railing. Jade was buffeted by the wind of flapping wings, and they were off.

The screech died down, and Jade could think again. She was being carried off by a monster/villain. Forget that!

Forming her wings, she swung up and over at her captor while letting out a blast of the Rooster power from the edge of her wings. The grip on her loosened.

Jade's cry of victory cut off as she looked down.

They'd not been flying off, but up. Gotham was a spread of lights below clouds, and the cold hit with a realization as a strong wind smacked her aside.

Flapping and using the Rooster to stabilize herself, Jade watched as the bug swung around and drew near. It was pink, of all things, with a yellow fur collar thing, and tufts of the color across it. The body shape was that of a rather fit teenage girl with armor, but the hands and feet were clawed, the feet even having only three toes, hooked. The face was a bug, though, mandibles and saw blade-like carapace for a mouth, and two blue compound eyes, and no other features aside from slit nostrils and pink fuzzy antennae.

Though it looked a bit less creepy when the bug spoke with its real mouth.

"No shadows here. Nothing to grab either. I'll just tear you apart and let it rain down!"

"Uhhh, if this is a hit, maybe I can make a better offer? I could recommend you for a nice apartment where no one judges?"

The answer was for the other's eyes to literally flash, and their wings to buzz even louder.

Jade had time to bring her wings up to block before the bug girl slammed into her, fists first.

Feathers cracked and dissolved, and the impact rocked her wings. And made her wonder if her arms were just covered or transformed, as she was sure those aching bones she felt should not be shaped like that!

The impact sent her rolling through the air. What way was up?!

Then she was struck in the back. That sent her falling, more reflex than concern having her pull on the Rooster to arrest her fall, wings flailing. Stabilizing, she blinked, and the bug filled her vision, burying fists in her gut. She couldn't cry out, all the air forced out.

Flying back, she hung in the air, and her defending arm was knocked aside as an armored fist struck her jaw with a right hook. Which tore her mask off, letting the wind whistle through her teeth.

The bug paused. Jade brought her sharpened wings down on the bug's shoulders with everything she could. They bit into the carapace, and the bug screamed. Jade kicked her in the chest with a taloned foot, striking up sparks with her talons on the armor. Flying back, she pushed at the bug with the Rooster. It didn't do much; she needed power to stay aloft, her wings were aching.

The bug hissed at her, spread her mandibles, and streaked off through the sky.

"Over? Not over," Jade growled as the streak came back around in a curve.

Strategy. Spell? No time. Um, item, none?! Oh, right, just stepping out to tomato moon bath! Uhm, martial arts? She'd never fought while flying before. OH BAD DAY!

No shadows up here to call on, she used what power she could work with to reinforce her wings, spreading them in front of her and trying to turn the feathers outward to stab on impact. The bug passed the shoulder alongside her, claws racking over Jade's side. The fabric of her costume was more durable than anything you got in the store. It was wasted money here.

Jade cringed, turned, and her hair was grabbed and she was tossed through the air.

"WAAAHHH!" Jade screamed, the bug coming right up upon her, claws bared.

Jade raised her wings to protect her neck and face, kicking out blindly. So her assailant attacked everything else.

The claws flashed, and pain bloomed across her as she struggled to think of something. Her Rooster tattoo grew warm, and she forced power out in a burst. The moth was struck back and, growling, Jade released her face and pointed her wings at the moth. She seized up in place even as Jade faltered in the air.

"Enough!" Jade shouted, resisting the urge to press something, anything, to her bleeding torso and hips. Twisting her wings, she willed that grip tighter. Tighter. Tighter?

The carapace was too hard to crush?!

This was not how her fights went! Where did this bitch even come from, Jade wondered furiously as blood dripped from her shredded clothes and her cloak flapped in the wind behind her.

Then the bug shrieked again, and Jade jerked back, stunned.

Just a punch to the gut this time. It hurt like heck, and she curled up in the agony.

'I'm losing. I'm losing this straight up fight. She's too fast to attack or get away from. I'm getting ripped to shreds. I need more. More? More anything!'

"Alright, you're the one who asks for it only in the clutch," Queen remarked from under her cloak. The cloak; not enough of a shadow to escape, but enough for…?

"You take care of it, Queenie!" Jade shouted, a Rooster charged flap letting her dodge another sudden charge. 'Not as fast as the one the bug built up for. I can turn quicker, got to not show my back.'

Only turning, she couldn't see the bug. But her tail bone was aching, when did that get hit?

"Boost now!" Queen ordered.

"Boost what?"

"Shadow jet or whatever, stupid. GO!"

Jade went, not seeing the bug swipe claws through where her head had been at high speeds.

Jade didn't scream as the shadows erupting from her body propelled her. But her teeth did crackle under pressure as the burning sensation erupted and built upon itself back there, her butt going numb. It seemed from the neck down she was going numb from blood loss.

Suddenly, she took a sharp turn. Jade blinked at that as she came to a stop. She felt numb, but aside from her scalp and jaw, not pain.

'It's not rapid healing, Jade, it's at best bandages. End this!" Queenie whispered.

Jade glanced back and saw… a tail. Not some Hsi Wu demon tail, but a spiked mass of large black feathers. They wiggled on command, left-right. Up-down. Circle? Yes.

Oh, a rudder for the high speed, she thought?

Then a screeching noise announced the bug had found her.

She caught Jade in the back with another ramming tackle. The impact still sent her tumbling, but it wasn't as agonizing, even as the pain started to seep back into her perception.

Righting herself, Jade looked down and would probably be shocked if she wasn't already strung out. Instead of seeing her torn clothes and bleeding cuts, her feathers had spread, sprouting down her front all the way to her scaled legs. It wasn't just a flesh-to-feather thing either; as Jade watched, more rows of feathers sprouted and folded down her torso, adding another layer.

They glistened, metallic. Jade breathed deep, grinning in her head as she glared at the hovering bug. Armor, she had her own armor now. And focusing, she could tell it was running down her back, too.

Let's see this freak tear into me now, Jade thought.

Shifting the flow of chi she hadn't noticed from her feather coat to her tail, Jade launched herself at the bug, who charged at her in turn.

The bug went for a punch. Jade twisted, tucking her wings, and bit down on the armored wrist before realizing what she was doing. Not a good idea, Jade realized as her neck was wrenched horribly, dragging the bug along for the ride, making her cut off the charge to slow down. Though it wasn't just her getting the pain of it; she could taste bug blood and the bug was screaming in either fury or pain. No wait, both, Jade realized before the bug swung her around.

Which left Jade to try and chop off one of those buzzing wings with her own. It bounced off, and to her alarm took a chunk of her feathers, with only a shriek showing the bug was at all bothered by it.

"Leggo!" the bug ordered, slamming a fist down on Jade's head. Jade diverted chi to her hair before realizing it, and had no time to smile when the bug impaled her hand on the hardened shock of hair.

Jade was close enough to do the only thing she could think of — bat away the free hand with her wing and claw into the bug like all heck with her kicking feet. And releasing one wing to return it to an arm, started pounding on her own jaw, hammering her teeth deeper into the carapace.

"NO YOU DON'T! SKREEEE!" the bug screamed, letting that shriek again.

Jade clapped her free hand over an ear, and her nose cracked under the punch, which knocked her free of the arm with a crackling, tearing sound.

"My arm! You little monster! First you freaking burn me, then you want to eat me?! You're as ugly now as you always were, aren't you!?" the bug accused.

Taking a moment to be puzzled on how tasty the bug's blood was, Jade reformed her wing and let the feathers start to sprout again, feeling relief at the insulation from the altitude. But something about those words, and the pink.

A bug. A moth? Killer Moth, that loser from the lists and his… ohhhh.

"You!"

"Ha! Yes, me!"

"That girl… what was your name!"

The bug seemed to practically vibrate in the air.

"Kitten! I am the adorable, someday sexy Kitten!"

"…So you really did survive. Dang, talk about a power-up," Jade remarked.

"It's my daddy's fault, but also yours!"

"Fault? You're a badass bug, it looks like!"

"I am not a bug! You stupid little monster! I am an adorable, popular, HUMAN girl! And I'm going to eat the other half of your face, and HIT YOU WITH IT!"

"Oh come on! We wouldn't even be up here if you were human! I didn't even qualify before I got my horns-"

"ENOUGH! DIEEEE!" Kitten hissed, launching towards Jade. She was caught flatfooted, barely able to block, and the air knocked out of her.

Looking down as she righted herself, she noticed something. Blood dripping through her coat of feathers, and the stinging pain. Yeah, armor was not invincible.

She needed an attack to get through. No Pig or Dragon. How many real fights had she been in since losing them?

Kitten was on her again, trying to tear into her, and Jade had to do all she could to protect her face as feathers creeped up her neck.

'I need to hit her harder. No time for magic, and if I try and Rooster her, she'll shriek her way out.'

She needed to hit hard.

Face burning up with fury and fear she'd not admit to, she head-butted Kitten when the villain finally batted her battered wings aside, hoping her horns might actually do some damage. She missed the face, but hit a shoulder. Punching deep into the carapace with sharpened shadows coming to a point, Kitten cried out and retreated.

Jade blinked a bit in confusion, her horns had missed by a ton. She had gotten a good hit in, how? Oh, armor on her face, she thought?

"You really are pathetic," Kitten growled, pressing down on the gaping wound in her shoulder.

"You're the one who can't see she's a bug!"

"Well, you're a chicken!"

"Am not! I'm facing you head on and kicking butt!"

"NO STUPID! YOU'RE A BARNYARD BIRD!" Kitten shrieked, gesturing wildly.

Horror struck Jade as she looked down at the beak that was indeed covering her ruined mouth, coming to a menacing point. Her feathers, her hair. The fact she could not actually fly without the Rooster. The Rooster! It had merged with her, so she was…

THE CHICKEN KHAN TRIBE GENERAL?!

Jade let out a shrill war cry, charging Kitten. Killing her would fix this revelation somehow. And Kitten charged in turn, already wanting her foe dead, and now wanting chicken for dinner.

Bug and bird collided with a mutual cracking smack, and proceeded to do their best to rip each other apart.

There was no strategy. The beak stabbed, the claws and razor feathers cut. The mandibles bit into feathers of flesh while claws, punches and kicks hammered home. Defense was an afterthought between the two transformed girls. Their minds and auras overflowing with a singleminded drive to kill.

Such that neither noticed the ground rushing up to meet them, until they collided with it with a crunch.

X X X

"Ugh… whhh," Jade groaned, rolling over as she coughed blood.

Putting a hand to her face, she winced, touching her bloodstained teeth. A wind blowing let her know most of her clothes were gone, which she could only find odd. One unswollen eye opening, she looked around at an unfamiliar roof.

Gotham, she wondered. Why did everything hurt?

Then a whistling groan drew her attention to a crumpled mass next to her. As she watched, it pulled itself together? What was she seeing, as the world tilted? Oh, it was a doll, she thought as Barbie came to life before her in profile. Then it turned its head and showed half a pink moth face.

"Halloween Barbie?" Jade wondered, as the freaky doll glared at her and jerkily got to her feet.

"It's Kitten, you dumb cluck," the doll slurred, trying to pop one half of its scalp into place with a doll hand while a bug hand clenched into a fist.

"Oh, right. DIE!" Jade shouted, suddenly forming a wing and swinging at the girl's throat. The wing was blocked by the bug arm, whose carapace shattered and the wing also shattered, revealing an arm that was probably not supposed to go that many directions.

Both screamed out as numbness receded to pain. But squaring off, they lifted their other limbs. Kitten then cocked her head and her doll face receded to the full moth face, and shrieked.

Jade collapsed under the audial assault.

Coughing blood through her mouth and holes along her chest, Kitten forced a giggle as Jade didn't rise. Folding back into her "human" form as best as her ravaged joints could manage, she planted a foot on Jade's head and drew it up.

A large leg covered in yellow fur swept her other foot out from under her.

Kitten tumbled back, and for a moment panicked at hitting her head, but a pair of strong arms caught her. Blinking, she stared up into two pale faces with four glowing red eyes apiece, and eyes going wide realized in a nasty panic the single word that shot like lightning through her instincts.

Spider.

Asuka-Tammy roared in Kitten's face, who screamed back. The scream turned into a horrid coughing fit, and she went limp in the grasp.

"Okay, enough of that," Asuka-Tammy huffed in sync.

The duo set to cocooning Kitten, careful to double bind against any escape while also taking care to not aggravate any wounds. Then it was to her friend.

"So many tattoos. Well, let's get you fixed up." She set to binding her up but with so much of her torn up it soon resembled a cocoon more than bandages. They shook their heads at the damage, plucking scraps of cloth away delicately.

The binding was interrupted by a buzzing sound in the darkness.

Asuka-Tammy's eyes turned red again as they turned back toward Kitten and leaped to stand over the bound moth girl. She cocked all her eyes as a strapping gray mothman landed on the roof.

"What are you going to do to her?" he demanded.

"You know her?" Tammy asked.

"I'm her father."

"Well, you certainly have some explaining to do!" Asuka snapped.

"…Fine, but not here," Killer Moth said, pulling a tracking dart off himself and tossing it onto the roof. Asuka-Tammy stepped over, letting him pick Kitten up, while she gingerly bound up her neighbor.

"Follow. Try running, and I'll eat you," Asuka said.

"She's not kidding."

"Hear me out and you have a deal."

X X X

"Jade," the Queen said, somewhere in the darkness. Jade pulled the warm darkness closer, trying to muffle the voice.

"Jade, it's time to wake up."

"Whyyyy?" Jade moaned, trying to duck her head under anything.

"Because it is. Hop to it!" Queen said, smacking Jade with, something?

Jade blinked awake, looking up at leafy tree branches growing up against a metal tiled ceiling with a lovely star pattern. Fireflies wove through the branches, and water flowed nearby. Sitting up, Jade grabbed the brown blanket covering her in place and took in what seemed to be a piece of forest and campsite crammed in an apartment.

Well, crammed didn't seem the right word.

A man wearing a kind of denim kilt stood up from his campfire, and turned to see her. He was a large, strapping man, who was shirtless, revealing a bronzed look and whose many tiny broken and set facial features made him hard to pin down nation-wise. More importantly, he lacked nipples, his eyes were hidden by the shadows stubbornly holding onto his face, and his hair and beard were all vines spouting from his skin. The vines were spiky like hair, but spouting tiny leaves; white flowers bloomed in places, giving the appearance of greying.

"You, I've seen you in the market," Jade said.

He nodded and closed the distance before she realized it. Pressing thumb to her brow, he nodded and withdrew it before she could object.

"You are healed sufficiently. Your kind in particular are new to me, but elementals are no oddity for my craft. And it was a pleasure to practice on a new species, I have learned much. Hmm, do note your healing is not complete; my arts are based in nature's own magic, but even so it was best not to push the process too fast. Your wounds are closed and bones mended, but damage lingers in many ways. Rest well, for a month at least, before seeking danger again. They await you in the super's 'serious room'," he said, stepping aside and pointing to the door.

"Uh, what do I owe you?" Jade asked, recalling last time she got patched up.

"Nothing. The spider mothers are dear friends; they requested I repay a portion of their life debt on their behalf. There's a fitting outfit in the bathroom for you. Under no circumstances try and use my toilet, and leave immediately after you are done," the healer said, making his own exit through the door.

"…I really have an interesting life. Crap, what happened to that pink jerk?"

Despite seemingly being alone, Jade took the blanket with her into the bathroom. Which seemed to be dedicated more to fungi than hygiene, she noted, taking in the literal moss carpet which, while wonderful on her feet, made her especially wary of the oddly pristine porcelain throne. And there on the lid was a folded kimono, in a shade of yellow Jade was not loving. Well, it was either gift or loaned, so beggars and choosers and all that.

But first, Jade let the blanket fall to the moss and floated up to the mostly unobstructed mirror to get a good look at herself.

Well, the beak she remembered growing was gone, good news. Bad news was, her face was still a nightmare beneath the nose. And had her nose changed a bit? She seemed to recall it getting broken, but the magic would fix that, right?

"Well, if I can't tell, it's no big deal, right?" Jade assured herself, the shadow cheeks forming as needed only to then dissolve. Ehg, she thought the mask was quite needed; the shadow graft looked creepy on its own, never mind popping up and going like that.

As for the rest… well, her blueness wasn't as big an issue anymore. The feather tattoos marched down her body all the way to her scaly legs, a circle formed around the Rooster tattoo exposing that patch of blue. And likewise, her neck was covered in the images of black and shades of blue feathers. So the only thing left the original blue was her head, fingers, and palms, and the Rooster patch with its red tattoo.

'Dang, who'd have thought I'd come to think of the blue look as normal?' Jade marveled, turning in the air to confirm her back was likewise covered. Yep, it was, not even a patch back there, though there was a spiraling pattern of feathers around her tailbone. She really did look like some kind of ink addict.

"A little test couldn't hurt," Jade assured herself, drawing her chi to her skin.

The feathers sprouted swiftly but elegantly, radiating out from her chest. Shoulders and chest covered by layers after layers, her arms engulfed into the wings, tiny delicate-looking feathers hugging her neck and a wave traveling down her body. When it reached the patch around the Rooster, the feathers actually extended to cover it. But only two layers before stopping, while the feathers built up elsewhere, and elongated farther.

'A weak spot,' Jade realized.

Looking up at the mirror, she flinched and blushed. There was the tail, and her hair had acquired a bit of metallic sheen, too.

"Well, not quite what you would have picked, I guess," Queenie remarked, her wispy form emerging and coiling around Jade just short of touching.

Jade didn't say a thing, just glaring at her "armor". Even hardening the feathers into blades did not make it look any less like what it was.

"I know what you are thinking, but this can work," Queen said, "Great for melee by tons of weapons, and with the other talismans lost we can't deal out distance attacks, so being able to tank stuff is a must-"

"I'm not going to use this."

"…Well, at least it's not hugging your body like some catsuit. I mean, you don't want to be one of 'those' villainesses-"

"It makes me look like a chicken!" Jade snapped, smacking the thick armor of feathers over her torso. It didn't make her look fat, but it was not the lean fit look she maintained by birth and activity.

She let the feathers dissolve, leaving her cloaked only in tattoos again.

"I'm not arguing this with you. You're smart enough to come around once you calm down. Besides, maybe you could have had a say in how your power developed and your body with it had you taken the helm instead of ignored the tide. Well, I'm out for now. Be glad it wasn't Big Red wanting to talk to you, and see what the landlady wants," Queenie prompted.

X X X

After leaving, Jade realized she needed to ask where the "serious room" was. That proved easy to find out. Which immediately answered what the serious room was. A dungeon.

So yeah, pretty serious.

Killer Moth was chained to the wall, his limbs stretched out and four spears piercing his wings. The super and some woman of her kind (a sister?) stood around watching him as he grumbled irritably. Well, at least he didn't seem to getting tortured? As for he new comer she had two eyes and a Gotham knights baseball cap but otherwise dressed in the sane workman ladies cut style; more importantly she looked just as cranky.

The landlady spotted Jade and nodded.

"Well, Mr. Drury Walker, looks like we can have that chat you were so eager for now," the super said, glaring at Killer Moth, "Your daughter attacked a member of our community. By all rights, we should be carving her up for parts and selling her in the market, but we're giving you a chance to speak in her defense first."

"I told you, she hasn't been in her right mind since her transformation," Killer Moth growled back, "She couldn't mentally handle the loss of her humanity, and snapped into a spiral of grief and rage. From what I can tell, she came here looking for the person who kidnapped and nearly killed her, in some delusional belief that getting revenge would turn her back to normal."

"I did not kidnap her!" Jade snapped, "If she wants to blame anyone for that, she should go after that Master of Games idiot!"

"Who?" Killer Moth asked, blinking in confusion.

"Some loser who kidnapped the two of us and Raven and a bunch of other girl villains to compete in a tournament that was really just an excuse to steal our powers," Jade explained, while mentally grumbling over the fact that something like that incident, which was really just a bit of filler in the grand adventure of her life, was coming back to haunt her like this.

"…Raven's not a villain," Killer Moth said

"Yeah, she kept complaining about that," Jade nodded.

"Karasu, I notice you're not denying the accusation of almost killing his daughter," the landlady noted, giving Jade a neutral look that nevertheless made her wilt under it.

"Well, yeah, I did that," she said, before quickly clarifying, "But not intentionally! I got put up against her in a match and easily overpowered her, but then she got all bitchy and started insulting me, and… er, well, I have a short temper, and at the time I had fire magic, so…"

"Oh, that's a bad combo," the super's lookalike commented, both of them nodding sagely.

"Yeah, not the first time I messed up with it. Honestly, I also thought she was tougher than the average human. I mean, how many people had I hit with those blasts and it was like a punch for all the damage it did? Never really crossed my mind the Master had grabbed, well, a weakling," Jade explained. Despite everything, she couldn't help sending an apologetic look at Killer Moth for calling his daughter that. He didn't really react, just glaring.

"So, it was a case of reckless use of powers against a Normal that you reasonably assumed wasn't a Normal under the circumstances. Unfortunate, but these things happen, especially with the young," the super's friend, sister, or whatever said.

"What happened next?" the landlady demanded.

"Nothing really, for her. Every time someone lost in that tournament, the Master made them vanish, saying losers were just sent home. Of course, he was actually using it to absorb them under our radars."

"Hmph, probably the tournament was a magical contract of some sorts that gave him the right to claim the girls if they lost. Not easy to pull it off all sneaky like that, high fey level stuff," the super commented.

"More like he was getting a boost if he got a dud like this Kitten and a hero when he was aiming for villains. Classic great power without the skills and wisdom to use it right," the lookalike said.

"Makes sense," Jade nodded, "And now that I think on it, he did say he just sent her home as he didn't want to absorb her. Huh, I never really gave a thought that she wouldn't be healed before going back."

"Well, Mr. Walker, looks like our Karasu isn't guilty of anything more than a bit of poor judgement. Anything else to say on your daughter's behalf?"

"What I have been telling you. She is broken, she doesn't know what she's doing. She can't even accept she's not human. It wouldn't be fair to condemn her like a mere criminal."

"A Rogue invoking fairness?" the landlady said, clearly unimpressed.

"But then again, sis, it's a simple fact that people just walking off a species change is more Saturday morning than reality. I mean, how many of our tenants and neighbors came out on this side of the spectrum lashing out and crazy?" the now confirmed sister asked.

The two drew close and muttered an argument of sorts. Jade just sighed, taking a seat on the bench part of a rack. It smelled surprisingly like citrus. Guess they cleaned torture devices regularly here.

She looked to Killer Moth, who was not straining against his bonds but was clenching his fists, and practically everything else he could. Furious, but seemed he knew breaking loose would make things worse.

Noticing her look, he gave her a glare; she returned it evenly. After all, it wasn't like it was really her fault, right?

The thought was simple enough, but as it sat there in her head, it seemed to weigh down on the floor, buckling and making things pop up. It was just the kind of thing a villain would say, wasn't it? That there was no need to feel guilty or responsible here, it was their own fault. Busy, busy, can't be bothered.

"Karasu," the landlady said. Jade didn't jolt, looking to see both taurs looming over her.

"You're the one invested in this here. What should be done about that girl?"

"…She needs help," Jade sighed.

"Not Arkham! That will only make her worse! It's what that place does," Killer Moth objected.

"So you want the one who tried to kill you helped?" the sister pressed, frowning slightly.

"What I did was an accident, but yeah, it was still my fault, I lost my grip. Besides, I got into the villain business in part because no one seemed willing to give me a chance in this world. Be a bit hypocritical if I acted like the hot dog guy."

"I don't know about hot dog guys in this, but understand that if you want her kept as prisoner-passling-"

"P.P.s are what we call dangerous post-transformees that we ease into the community by the ball chain, carrot-stick and all that," the sister interjected.

"Yeah, if we do that, she'll be in the Buried Bricks. We run a tight ship, but it ain't leak proof. So you'd be in danger if she busted loose. And partially responsible as a sponsor for any damages she does if she gets loose. Not to mention this will use up your brownie points with the two of us regarding Asuka-Tammy. You'll be back to being squared."

"…Well I guess there's one other thing for the sentence," Jade said. She turned her eyes to Killer Moth, "This dummy is the one that superpowered her up after a trauma and couldn't even keep a leash on her. I mean, did it ever occur to him to make her maybe a mediocre strong moth woman or something?! So if he wants this PP deal, I want all his assets, down to his last roll of toilet paper, to get some shadow-blasted financial security! That's the price for me being this nice."

The supers smiled a bit at that and exchanged a look.

"Hmm, the Tally Man has a good side business reputation for villain asset assessment. And collecting."

"We still got his card?"

"Yep."

"So, Mr Walker?"

"I'll do it," Killer Moth said promptly.

"…What?" Jade said, floating over to him, "No haggling?"

"If it gives Kitten a chance at a real life, I can start over from an alley again as many times as needed," he said without hesitation.

The supers started talking then on how to seal the contract, but Jade just watched the Rogue, not sagging in defeat or grinding his mandibles. If anything, he seemed relieved.

"Wait, where is Kitten?" Jade asked.

"Asuka-Tammy is keeping her in her apartment."

X X X

"Get off already!" Kitten snapped, dangling from the ceiling, only her humanoid head not covered in silk. Currently, she was swinging back and forth as the happily chirping spider kits used her as a swing, clinging to the cocoon.

"So, any allergies I should know about?" Asuka asked, ducking into the room holding a wok pan.

"I'll hit you in the face with your other face!" Kitten shouted.

"…you know, she's kind of cute when angry," Asuka commented. Tammy glared at her other half and smacked her lightly over the head with her own pan.

"No, no bad sitcom romance for you. Besides, I'm pretty sure she's a teenager," Tammy said with a shudder.

Two Days Later:

"So, Killer Moth actually had a good amount of money?" Tammy asked. The three were sitting at the bar in the Buried Bricks, the din granting them a degree of privacy.

"Well, it was his house, all his equipment, and basically everything but a few family heirlooms, photos and stuff I let him keep. Some of the stuff still has yet to sell. And I have to give Tally Man and the Penguin a cut for collection, appraisal, and then auction," Jade pointed out, tapping the bar with a finger.

"So where does that leave you, financially?" Asuka asked.

"Well, enough to have options. Even after the expenses, I could pay off a huge chunk of my debt to Penguin. But there's plenty to be said for investing it elsewhere. I mean, I can probably pull out of my small business stuff and focus on really grinding my magic and crime or cut out the crime and try to really grow the business stuff, since I don't need a quick turn around."

"Go with business," the two said in sync.

"Listen, I am sure the crime is thrilling. But you need stability in life. Give it a few years, and you can be as much a part of the Buried Bricks as we are," Asuka said, with Tammy nodding along.

Jade didn't roll her eyes, and simply ignored the advice, tracing a design someone had scratched on the bar top.

Yeah, people didn't get it. She was not trying to build a life here. Not in Gotham or this world. Long term thinking was practically admitting defeat, even. The goal was to escape this world and 'get back to her life'.

All of this wasn't even resume. It would be like it didn't happen.

"But it did happen," Queenie whispered somewhere.

"Anyway… news from yer old stomping grounds."

Jade looked over the announcement printed on the paper, and the picture of a blonde girl with blue eyes and a tiny nose.

"How did I not hear about this?" Jade wondered, as she leaned against the bar. Asuka leaned over and affectionately poked her on the head. The two were wearing their usual long-sleeved silk shirts, this time red for Asuka and green for Tammy. Their own drinks were on the bar, fizzling like the sodas they were. Apparently after getting kidnapped while drunk, the duo had sworn off alcohol.

"It's because you hermit yourself up so much. You might hear some news and gossip if you got out and socialized more," Asuka said.

"Yeah, that would be true," Tammy said, pulling her mouth wider to accommodate an impressive sandwich she was holding at ready.

"Still, shouldn't this be big news, the Titans getting a sixth player? And a powerful geomancer at that?" Jade insisted, grabbing her own to-go drink.

"Well, it's on the other coast, so it doesn't really matter. Besides, these youth-themed teams never last that long — they're like high school bands. At best, they get enduring fame because members go on to be big stars under a real band."

"The Titans aren't a joke! Starfire's my archenemy," Jade pouted. No way she was going to admit to being on even fighting terms with C-listers; for all the trouble they caused her, the Titans had to be a big deal.

Asuka-Tammy exchanged a look and smiled.

"So, you've been over to see that brat?" Jade asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah, she's not doing good. So far we have her tightly wrapped up as a doll so she can't go all buggy-"

"She looks a bit like a mummy. If mummies were more silky."

"Didn't they use silk to wrap mummies?"

"I thought that was linen?"

"Ahem," Jade interrupted the pointless tangent.

"Yeah, she's not doing so well. Pouting and trying to avoid doing any work, even with that ogre walking her on a leash."

"That poor ogre, trying to get her to be a janitor," Jade remarked.

"Eh, he's getting a rent reduction for community service, so don't feel too bad," Tammy said.

"I just wish there wasn't a public humiliation factor. She's clearly rather delicate," Asuka pointed out.

"Tell that to my tattoo-covered butt," Jade grumbled.

"We asked Flesh Render how her therapy sessions were going, but he went all patient-confidentiality on us. Really, ever since he got certified, that guy has gotten so into himself," Tammy complained.

"So, she's locked up tight, though, when not out on a leash?"

"Oh yeah. Tons of big sealing wards and a very nice set of bars on the 'forsaken bathroom' in Building C. Trust us, no one's having a good time there."

Meanwhile:

Kitten hated this costume. No, loathed it. She looked like a mummy from some dumb old movie.

Her jaw couldn't even come apart to gnaw on it properly. Which she didn't want anyway because people's jaws don't come apart.

Likewise, even if her dorm room sucked and she hated this boarding school or whatever it was, she almost did not hate it as much as the streets. Not that she'd ever lived on the streets. That was for losers and she wasn't. The weird guy, was he a teacher or something, had pressed that point when she was forced to sit down with him.

As it was, she paced her room for the moment, idling tugging on the silk the twins had given her. She hated it and found them creepy, but was happy they had made it pink. It was pretty and soft to the touch, like having a blanket wrapped around you but not stifling. It also kept her from coming apart.

Wanting to go out for a walk, or maybe an anything, she tugged at the door built into the bars, making the Dullahan on guard duty pick his head up to look at her.

Snarling, Kitten kicked at the bars a few times when they reused to budge, and then stopped, smiled, and went to lay down on her cot, fiddling with a pink bra.

The guard turned his head in a shaking motion and muttered how he didn't envy the therapist and potioneers for this job.

"I'M GOING TO ROAST THAT CHICKEN!" Kitten screamed suddenly, making the guard drop his head in surprise.

"Why do I always seem to get stuck with poor transformees?" the Dullahan griped, picking up his head and rubbing the sore nose.

X X X

"But you'll have to settle things with her sooner or later," Asuka warned.

"Why? She's locked up and that other stuff," Jade remarked.

"Closure of course/Dramatic demands," the two said over each other.

There was a few moments of slightly uncomfortable silence after that, before the drider chose to break it again.

"You know, you could just take off the mask and drink here, no one will hold a bit of facial oddity against you."

By example, they pointed to a dullahan couple whose heads were chatting on the table while both bodies poured glasses of red liquid down the gaping, horrifying, smoke-leaking holes between their shoulders.

"No, it's a secret identity thing," Jade snapped.

The sigh the two shared made Jade decide now was the time to take her leave.

"We'll be by later to go over your papers," Tammy called after her as Asuka tackled her own sandwich.

X X X

"Thank you for coming," Batman said. Standing before his massive monitor in the Batcave, he was framed against a series of feeds playing out behind him.

"Sorry I couldn't come sooner. Short notice and all that, but I know you never call for a social thing. What do you need my help with?" Zatanna asked, accepting a cup of tea from the tray offered by Alfred with a smiling nod.

"Zhu Chan," Batman stated.

"The artist now known as Karasu?"

"I think she has been dealt with unfairly. But my own mistakes and my image make reaching out to her difficult."

"Ah, good to hear some humility. And of course, if she's hiding in the Buried Bricks, even you can't just walk in. Not that I can either; that place by its nature is hard to get into, and the BBs are nothing if not tribalist and distrustful of any human magic user they see as establishment or villain. *Sigh* You never make it easy. But that's why I keep coming back, I guess."

"Can you do it?"

"Can I do it? Please spare me your cynicism. Give me free reign over Gotham, and I'll pull that kid out of my hat before you know it," she said, sweeping her hat off and striking a dramatic bow, before her face grew serious, "The question, though, is what exactly are we supposed to pitch when that blue bird is in hand?"

Straightening up, she listened as Batman told her what he had in mind.

X X X

Ra's al Ghul looked out the office window at the airstrip, appreciating the organized cacophony of the private jet getting ready to take off.

"All is in readiness. Now it is time for us to properly determine if this Zhu Chan, or Karasu as she is calling herself, can now be relied upon to play her part," the ancient human said, glancing to the only other person in the room.

"I will not fail you, Father," a beautiful, dark-haired woman said with certainty.

"You have chosen one of the masks?" he inquired, turning to face her.

"Why ask a question you know the answer to?" she inquired, holding up an object wrapped in sutras, "Still, approaching that one with these seem an unnecessary risk, Father."

"I determine what is necessary, Talia. This power may seem sealed, but it is incredibly dangerous; we cannot assume time to be on our side. If we do not want this sword turned on us, we must be sure to swing first, as it were. Success or failure could turn on a grain of sand."

"And for success, you require a girl practically drowning in Gotham," she remarked.

Ra's smiled at the words and turned back to look on the jet.

"Drowning? No need to be so dramatic — that child is 'surviving' Gotham, having been cast alone and maimed into such a cruel wilderness. I will be most disappointed if you underestimate her, daughter. Now, be on your way, and do keep the Detective out of this. I will await word of your success," the man sometimes called Demon commanded, glancing back at his daughter, who bowed and left without another word.

Now the game was afoot.

---

Author's Note:

Well this chapter was a beast.

The big fight I am particularly wary on, this was from start to finish meant to be more brutal than anything up to this point. No villain hero stuff here just a brutal struggle of death and survival. And while Kitten might be tied down for now she is no more out than any villain thrown in the slammer, though I hope to make her continuing journey interesting along with Jade's.

I was actually planning for Jinx to play a role in this chapter, but it didn't work out in the end; Jump City as a whole only getting a mention to update y'all and Jade a bit. Unfortunate but next chapter we will show the "Other Coast" is not as irrelevant as some Driders think.

Still even as Jade gets some financial ground to stand on and the unknown threat of Kitten is contained, she now has two power players on her trail. With this much going on I don't expect the next chapter to be easier.

Would you believe Harley was a troublesome element? I wanted a bit of extra levity and to wrap up her team up ambitions, but the whole Roadrunner bit was harder to write than expected. Well live and learn, hopefully it still worked.

Stay safe out there everyone! Long days and pleasant nights to you all.